Theoretical studies on the control of oxidative phosphorylation in muscle mitochondria: Application to mitochondrial deficiencies

1. The dynamic model of oxidative phosphorylation developed previously for rat liver mitochondria incubated with succinate was adapted for muscle mitochondria respiring on pyruvate. We introduced the following changes considering: (1) a higher external ATP/ADP ratio and an ATP/ADP carrier less displaced from equilibrium; (2) a substrate dehydrogenation more sensitive to the NADH/NAD(+) ratio; and (3) the respiratory chain, ATP synthase and phosphate carrier being more displaced from equilibrium. The experimental flux control coefficients already determined in state 3 for respiratory rate and ATP synthesis were used to adjust some parameters. This new oxidative phosphorylation model enabled us to simulate the whole titration curves obtained experimentally in state 3. These curves, which mimic the effect of mitochondrial complex deficiencies on oxidative phosphorylation, show a threshold effect, which is reproduced by the model. 2. The model was also used to simulate other physiological conditions such as: (i) state 3.5, conditions in-between state 4 and state 3; and (ii) hypoxic conditions. In both cases a profound change in the pattern of the control coefficients was shown. 3. This model was thus found useful in investigating a variety of new conditions, the most interesting of which can then be experimentally studied.